At just 17 years old, Blessing from Sierra Leone is changing laws and standing up for girls’ and women’s rights, especially significant in a country where over 60% of women experience gender-based violence. Her most notable achievement to date is her key role in passing legislation that advances gender equality. As a youth activist, she lobbies, campaigns, and fights passionately for this cause. No goal is too ambitious for Blessing: she even dreams of becoming president one day.
“Advocacy isn’t something I do to put myself in the spotlight,” says Blessing. “It’s a passion I’ve had since I was young. At school, I’ve seen how boys have a lesser regard for girls, so I see it as my responsibility to encourage girls to make their voices heard. I also want to be a role model, someone who stands up for others. And I take that very seriously, because girls have so much potential, but they don’t get the platform to show it.”
Showing What Women Can Achieve
Despite her age, Blessing has a clear vision:
“I’m ready to show society what we women can achieve and contribute. And to make it clear to everyone that discrimination and disdain for women must stop.”
– Blessing
She studies linguistics at the University of Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital. Besides her studies, she devotes most of her time to lobbying and activism. Together with other activists and with the support of Plan International via the She Leads programme, she has intensively lobbied the government, particularly through social media.
How to Introduce a Law
In 2022, her hard work started paying off. Blessing and other girl activists were given the opportunity to take over parliament in Sierra Leone for the International Day of the Girl. They used the opportunity to put the introduction of a bill regulating women’s rights at the top of the political agenda. This bill had already been voted on in 2012 but had failed to secure a majority. Ten years later, the activists managed to dust it off and get it passed after all.
The so-called GEWE law (Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment) stipulates, among other things, that socioeconomic opportunities for women will be improved and that at least 30% of key government positions and electoral slots must be held by women. A month after the girl activists voted in favour of the bill, the president signed it into law.
Many More Women in Parliament
The activists, led by Blessing, have significantly improved women’s rights in Sierra Leone. They added several provisions to the law to ensure the protection of women in the workplace. “The law not only regulates women’s political participation, but also their safety. Because, if we know we are safe, we can make a difference in so many more places,” Blessing explains.
“More women in politics means greater attention to issues such as sexual abuse, child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence.”
– Hawanatu Mansaray
In the following national elections of June 2023, the number of women in parliament rose from 17 to 41, thanks to this new law. “More women in politics means greater attention to issues such as sexual abuse, child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence,” emphasises Hawanatu Mansaray, She Leads consortium coordinator in Sierra Leone.
“Women Will Play an Increasingly Important Role”
However, for Blessing and her fellow She Leads members, the work isn’t over: “I’m working very hard in order to stand up for the girls and young women in my country, to ensure they are empowered and speak out.” Blessing is convinced the future looks bright: “Women have always been on the sidelines, but now they’re leading the way. I’m convinced that women will play an increasingly important role, not only in parliament but also in other key government positions and in businesses.”
“Women have always been on the sidelines, but now they’re leading the way.”
– Blessing
